Shale Gas: Hydrofracking, its Effects and Possible Remediation

Abstract

Unconventional petroleum and natural gases such as shale oils and shale gases have been considered in recent times as the alternative energy sources to augment global conventional petroleum reserve to keep pace with global energy demand considering enormous reserves of these resources all over the world. The United States of America is the pioneer in unconventional petroleum exploration, development, and production, and the lessons learnt in the US are now being transferred to other parts of the world to develop their unconventional petroleum resources. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking or hydrofrac) are the emerging technologies to exploit gas shale resources. Hydraulic fracturing operations for shale gas production have certain effects such as surface water and groundwater contaminations, undue pressure on public water supply, greenhouse gas emissions, and seismic events on the local environments, man, ecosystems, and groundwater systems; and the severity of these impacts depends on chemical composition of shales/shale gases, wellbore integrity, chemicals used in fracking fluids and management of various stages of shale gas development and production. It is suggested as a remediation measure that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) should be carried out by interested companies in shale gas business and their reports submitted at an early exploration stage to the host government or relevant agencies. Environmental-related legislation and regulation as well as safety guidelines for drilling and production of shale gas such as disclosure of chemicals in fracking fluids should be enforced. Intensive and collaborative researches should be supported by various energy stakeholders such as governments, academia, shale gas prospectors, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to understand the chemical constituents of shale deposits and shale gases, monitor the impacts of shale gas extraction on the groundwater system, and determine possible connection between hydrofracking and seismic events. It is concluded that with this intensified research into shale gas exploration, development and production in mind, better technologies which are more environmentally friendly to exploit gas shale assets will soon emerge.